272 SOME GARDEN CONTRASTS 



itself to be so strong in other ways. But in these 

 latter days of aesthetic revivals, and more particu- 

 larly of the rediscovery of the truth that the 

 house and garden should form one harmonious 

 whole, it is indeed strange that we should be so 

 slow to learn from India. 



What useful and delightful gardens might 

 be made for clubs, residences, and public pleasure- 

 grounds in every Anglo-Indian Station, if we 

 would but call the Indian master-builder and his 

 malis to our aid. It would be difficult to find 

 a more appropriate design for a modern Indian 

 house, or palace and its grounds, than that of a 

 Mughal bagh with its adjoining serai, such as can 

 be seen at the Taj, or on a still larger scale at 

 Shah-Dara, Jahangir's tomb. The open square of 

 the serai would form a useful and dignified fore- 

 court. The modern dwelling-house would take 

 the place of the high entrance to the bagh ; on 

 the far side of which, the enclosed garden with 

 its terraces, avenues, and long canals would 

 stretch undisturbed. Apart from the beauty of 

 Indian garden symbolism, and the use of the 

 open pavilions and platforms, what a charm the 

 formal setting and the fountains would lend to 

 English skill in scientific horticulture our ex- 



